Doorway sealing device

ABSTRACT

A device for sealing the doorways of structures used in the carriage or storage of finely divided bulk materials, comprising vertical channels attached to the inside of such a structure at either side of the doorway, removable locking members held within the channels without attachment thereto, tension members attached to the locking members and extending transversely across the doorway and a diaphragm covering the tension members on the inside thereof and supported thereby.

United States Patent 1 Bakken 51 Aug. 12, 1975 1 DOORWAY SEALING DEVICE [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,776

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 223,230, Feb. 3, 1972,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 160/368 G; 52/63; 52/222 [51] Int. C1. E0613 5/00; B61D 45/00 [58] Field of Search 52/222, 192, 196, 63;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,260 5/1938 Corkran 160/368 G 2,335,361 11/1943 Schiller i 160/395 2,727,595 12/1955 Beltman..... 105/423 X 2,792,882 5/1957 Snyderm. 160/368 G 2,884,874 5/1959 Molt 105/423 X 3,025,907 3/1962 Ford 160/368 G 3,068,967 12/1962 Oakley.... 105/369 A 3,177,927 4/1965 Starr 160/368 G X 3,218,766 11/1965 Bruning 160/368 G 3,273,633 9/1966 Seidmon et al.. 160/392 X 3,283,807 11/1966 Helwig 105/423 X 3,498,358 3/1970 Bruning 105/423 X 3,513,901 5/1970 Bakken 160/368 G 3,719,013 3/1973 Blick 52/222 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLlCATlONS 302,512 7/1968 Sweden 52/63 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant ExaminerLes1ie A. Braun Attorney, Agent, or F irmBums, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [5 7 ABSTRACT A device for sealing the doorways of structures used in the carriage or storage of finely divided bulk materials, comprising vertical channels attached to the inside of such a structure at either side of the doorway, removable locking members held within the channels without attachment thereto, tension members attached to the locking members and extending transversely across the doorway and a diaphragm covering the tension members on the inside thereof and supported thereby.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures IO 7b I2 I! PAHLMEU H19 1 2 975 SHEET FIG.I

SHEET FIG.4

PATENTED 3899316 i160 ll6b J60 PATENTED AUG 1 75 SHEET DOORWAY SEALING DEVICE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 223,230, filed Feb. 3, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for sealing the doorways of structures used in the carriage or storage of grain or other finely divided bulk materials. It is presently contemplated that the principal use of the device will be as an inner sealing device for the doorways of railway boxcars used in the carriage of such materials, and this disclosure will primarily describe its use as such, but this invention is adapted to be used in any walled structure used for the carriage or storage of such materials.

When finely divided or granular bulk materials, such as grain, fertilizer, or coal are carried in a railway boxcar, some means must be provided to tightly seal the doorway of the boxcar, as such materials tend to readily escape through the loosely fitting outer or storm doors. In order to prevent the escape of such materials, it has been known to employ a tightly fitting inner door. This invention relates to an improved type of doorway sealing device. A sealing device for this purpose should be adapted to facilitate loading and unloading of the boxcar, should be economical and should minimize damage to the boxcar occasioned by installation and removal. 1

This invention is particularly directed to a sealing device for boxcars used in the carriage of grain, and this disclosure will deal principally with the method of its use in the carriage of grain and the advantages arising from such use. However, it will be apparent that the methods and advantages disclosed below are also applicable to the carriage of other finely divided bulk materials.

The characteristics of a suitable sealing device for railway boxcars are governed by the nature of the materials to be transported, which is discussed above, and by the conditions at the points of loading and unloading of the boxcars.

In the carriage of grain, the loading point is usually a grain elevator operated by one man. Accordingly, the sealing device should be one that can .easily, rapidly, and efficiently be installed by one man.

The unloading point is usually a grain terminal at a seaport or a mill. Two methods of unloading grain from boxcars are commonly employed.

1. Manually controlled power shovels. The sealing device must be partially or completely removed so as to allow the entry into the boxcar of the workmen and their machines.

2. Mechanical dumpers." The outer or storm doors are opened manually, the sealing device is broken open mechanically by an integral part of the dumper known as the door breaker, and the boxcar is mechanically unloaded by alternately tilting it in two directions to cause the grain to flow gravitationally through the open doors. A mechanical dumper is capable of a certain number of car cycles per hour; in order for the dumper to work to capacity, it is imperative that the outer or storm doors be opened before the car is positioned on the dumper. It is therefore important that any sealing device does not deflect sufficiently to touch and bind the outer doors, rendering manual opening difficult.

2. Description of the Prior Art A known type of sealing device for grain cars is constructed of a sheet of cardboard reinforced by steel straps which are strongly nailed to the boxcar. The repeated installation and removal of such sealing devices necessarily causes damage to the structure of the boxcar, the degree of damage depending on the number and size of the nails used. Moreover, such doors have on occasion been known to deflect and bind the outer doors, retarding the operation of mechanical dumpers.

When such sealing devices have to be opened manually, the straps must be cut by some means before entry into the boxcar can be gained. Usually, they are cut manually with an axe or some other implement. This is a hazardous operation, often involving injury to the worker when the straps, which are under considerable tension, suddenly release upon being cut. The description of my invention will show that it is unnecessary to cut the straps to remove the sealing device, thus overcoming this particular hazard. The description of my invention will also show that it overcomes other difficulties at the unloading point and that it is easily and efficiently installed. Moreover, it is economical having regard to the following cost factors:

1. Initial cost,

2. Cost of repairing damage to the boxcar occasioned by installation and removal of the inner door,

3. Cost of distribution of doors from point of manufacture to point of installation, and

4. Cost occasioned by leakage of grain in transit.

It is known in the prior art to install metal channels on either side of the doorway of a railway boxcar, into which channels a wooden nailing post is removably mounted. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,874. In this prior art device, the wooden nailing post is not removed in the course of the ordinary use of the device, but only when it has become excessively damaged through repeated nailing. Opening of the door to remove the grain manually still necessitates cutting of the straps. An important advantage of the device disclosed herein is that pressure from the outside in excess of the pressure from the load inside the boxcar causes a release of the sealing device without the necessity of cutting any straps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention includes two channels attached to the inside of a boxcar on either side of the doorway, which channels are adapted to receive locking members to which are attached metal straps that extend transversely across the doorway of the boxcar and support a diaphragm that seals in the bulk commodity to be carried by the boxcar. The channels and the locking member are so constructed that the member is securely held by the channel when pressure is applied to the tension members from within the boxcar (i.e. by the commodity in the boxcar) but releases from the channel when pressure in excess of the inside pressure is applied to the outside of the tension member, for example, by a mechanical dumper. My invention can obviously also be used to seal the doorways of structures other than boxcars, if desired.

The advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the sealing device of this invention as applied to the inside of a boxcar doorway, with a portion of the diaphragm cut away to reveal the underlying structure and with the central area of the doorway cut away.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line l1 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a channel member of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a locking member at the point of its attachment to a tension member.

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of a locking member at its point of attachment to a tension member, showing an alternative means of attachment of a tension member thereto.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one known type of doorway frame construction for a railway boxcar with a channel member of this invention attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, in FIG. I a side wall of a railway boxcar is indicated at 1, and the floor of the boxcar at 2. The boxcar doorway 3 is provided with side frame members 4.

Adjacent the doorway on each side thereof are channel members 5. A cross-section of one of the elongated channel members of my invention is shown at FIG. 3. It is preferably made of metal, although it may be made of any other suitable substance of sufficient strength. The channel member 5 is provided with an end wall 6 and two side walls 7a and 7b. The channel members are positioned so that the side walls 7a are remote from the doorway. A lateral flange 8 issues from the side wall 7a restricting the width of the channel opening 9. In my preferred embodiment the side wall 7a has the shape of a semi-circle, but as will appear from this disclosure, it could obviously assume many different shapes without affecting the functioning of my device.

A flange 10 issues from the side wall 7b and extends towards the doorway. The purpose of flange 10 is to facilitate attachment of the channel member 5 to the boxcar wall. In some embodiments of my invention flange 10 may be dispensed with, depending, obviously, on the construction of a particular boxcar and the method employed to attach the channel member thereto.

Returning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, what is shown therein is a method of utilizing my invention in conjunction with a boxcar having wooden walls, and doorway frame members comprising wooden posts 4. The channel member 5 is attached to the wooden post 4 and walls 1 within a recess therein as shown in FIGS. I and 2. The channel member 5 may be attached to the post 4 and the walls I by any suitable means, such as by screws, nails or bolts. The channel members 5 are intended as permanent installations which will form part of the structure of the boxcar throughout its useful life.

(It is apparent that the channels, formed in my preferred embodiment by channel members 5, need not necessarily be integral members that are attached to the structure of the boxcar as a unit, but may be formed in a variety of ways employing, for example, separate components to fill the functions of the various parts of a unitary channel member. For example, the channel could be formed by combining a recess in the wall and- /or door post, an angle iron fulfilling the function of side wall 7b and flange l0, and a separate flange attached to the walls and extending partially over the recessed area fulfilling the function of flange 8. However, in my preferred embodiment I employ a unitary structure 5 because of its durability, simplicity, and comparative ease of installation and removal.)

When the channel members 5 have been attached to the structure of the boxcar, the boxcar is ready for the complete installation of the sealing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a locking member 11 of my invention to which has been attached a tension member 12. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the tension member 12 is attached by being wrapped about the locking member 11 and welded at points 13. The tension members could obviously be attached to the locking members by other means, such as screws, bolts or nails. In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 4 the locking member 11 is bevelled at corner 14 to facilitate its installation within a channel member 5. But this feature is not essential to the successful operation of my invention, and is a mere convenience only.

The locking member 11 is preferably a wooden board of appropriate dimensions to permit it to pass through the restricted channel opening 9 and to be slid laterally behind the lateral flange 8 and to be held thereby when pressure is applied to the tension members 12 from within the boxcar. The width of the locking member 11 must obviously be greater than the width of the restricted channel opening 9. The thickness of the locking member 11 must be roughly comparable to the length of the side wall 7b to minimize any tendency of the locking member 11 to twist out of the channel member 5 at the end that abuts on side wall 7b. The respective dimensions of the channel and locking member must, of course, allow for the presence of a tension member 12. It is not necessary that the locking member fit tightly beneath flange 8; in fact, some degree of looseness is desirable in order to facilitate release of the locking member 11.

In my preferred embodiment, the tension members 12 are flexible steel bands. However, they may also be constructed of some other metal, or any other material of sufficient strength. They need only be sufficiently flexible to permit insertion and/or removal of the locking member 11 from the channel member 5. In my preferred embodiment, the tension members 12 are attached to the locking member 11 before shipment to the elevator for use in the loading of boxcars. Also, I prefer to provide a plurality of locking members 11 for each channel member 5 in order to facilitate packing and transportation of the pre-assembled locking and tension member units. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, three separate locking members 11 are provided for each channel member 5, with the divisions between the locking members being indicated at 15.

The length of the tension members 12 from one locking member to the other is selected so as to permit installation of the locking members 11, but to prevent deflection, under pressure of the loaded commodity, to an extent that will cause the outer doors to bind. Installation of a locking member 11 is accomplished simply by inserting its leading edge beneath flange 8 and snapping it into the channel member 5.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking members 11 may be first installed within-the channel members 5, and the tension members 12 subsequently attached thereto. This alternative embodiment, is depicted in FIG. 5, wherein it is shown a locking member 11 and a tension member 12 affixed thereto by nails 16a, 16b and 160. It should be noted that if this embodiment is employed the nails should be driven in at a slight angle against the direction of the tensional force, placing the outer nail 16a first and then nails 16]) and 160 respectively. If this method is employed it will facilitate grain loading if the coopering party attaches one side of the tension membersto their respective locking members prior to the time of actual coopering. When actual coopering takes place the first locking member, with tension members attached thereto, is inserted into its respective channel member, then the other locking member inserted into its channel member and the ends of the tension members nailed to the locking members, starting by pulling one of the centre members taut and nailing same. This should create sufficient tension to prevent the locking members from falling out of position while coopering is completed. I suggest that, after attachment of one of the centre tension members, coopering be completed by attaching the bottom tension member and working up to the top. It will be noted that in this alternative embodiment it is still possible to release the entire sealing device without the necessity for cutting the tension members.

Referring again to the preferred embodiment of my invention as shown in FIG. 1, when the locking members 11 have been inserted in the channel members 5, the installation of the sealing device is completed by the application of a diaphragm 17 on the inside of the tension members in order to completely seal in the commodity to be loaded. Alternatively, the diaphragm l7 and the tension members 12 may form a unitary structure, with the tension members embedded in the diaphragm in any one of various manners that are well known in the art. The diaphragm 17 consists of one or more sheets of any suitable semi-rigid rupturable material adapted to seal in the grain and to be cut, pierced or broken with relative ease when the grain is to be unloaded. In my preferred embodiment, I employ cardboard, but any other suitable material may be employed. If the diaphragm is installed separately from the tension members, it should completelycover the tension members and extend a short distance onto the walls of the boxcar or onto the locking members and be lightly attached thereto by some suitable means, such as stables. It should also extend a short distance onto the floor of the boxcar and be lightly attached thereto by similar means. The mode of attachment of the diaphragm does not differ in any material respects from that described in my prior Canadian Pat. No. 856,527.

Prior to loading of the boxcar, a wooden board or other suitable crosspiece may be attached to the upper ends of the locking members so that it extends across the doorway on the inside thereof to serve as a support for the loading spout. This crosspiece should be removed when loading is complete.

When unloading of the boxcar is accomplished by mechanical means, the locking device and tension members are released by the pressure of the mechanical unloading device and may be easily removed without presenting any hazards due to broken or torn tension members or projecting or loose nails.

When unloading is accomplished by manual means, the diaphragm is slit allowing some of the commodity to escape, and when the pressure of the commodity has been sufficiently reduced, the locking members and tension members may be easily removed manually without the necessity of cutting any of the tension members.

Installation and removal of the sealing device offthis invention necessitates no damage whatever to the boxcar, which therefore does not require any repair. In the embodiment wherein the tension members and the diaphragm form a unitary structure, it is not contemplated that the sealing device of this invention be reused. If the tension members and diaphragm are separate, the sealing device may be reused, with the provision of a new diaphragm. However, it may be that in most cases it will be more economical in any event to simply dispose of the sealing device once it has been used.

FIG. 6 depicts the installation of a channel member 5 in a known type of boxcar, namely a CNR boxcar. The channel member 5 is welded at point 21a to a metal doorway frame member 19. It is also welded at point 21b to an angle iron 20 that is attached to the outer wall by welding bolts or rivets and attached to a wooden post 22 by means of a bolt 23, the post being provided to support the inner wall 1 of the boxcar. Apart from the manner of attachment of the channel member 5, the embodiment of my sealing device depicted in FIG. 6 does not differ in any material respect from the preferred embodiment already described herein.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention and several variations thereof, it will be apparent that many variations are possible within the scope of this invention. For example, many variations in the construction of the channel member 5 are possible. In my preferred embodiment, flange 8 is depicted as parallel to end wall 6, but this parallelism is not essential to the operation of my invention, provided that flange 8 will retain the locking member. End walls 6 and side wall 7b are depicted as flat and perpendicular to each other, but some variation of this construction is permissible provided that it is still possible to insert the locking member and provided that the locking member does not readily twist out. Also, it is not necessary that the locking member 11 be a perfect rectangle; many other shapes are possible provided that it can be inserted through channel opening 9 and that it will be held within channel opening 9 by flange 8 and will not readily twist out at the end that abuts on side wall 7b. The locking member 11 is preferably made of wood, but it may also be made of any other suitable material such as metal or plastic. Various means of attaching the tension members 12 to the locking member 11 have been discussed, and the tension members 12 may be composed of a variety of materials. In my preferred embodiment, tension members are depicted as being horizontal and parallel to each other, but this is not essential to the functioning of my device. The channel members 5 and locking members 11 may be unitary structures. or they may be made up of a number of sub-units. Also, while I have shown my sealing device in use throughout the entire extent of the doorway, it is conceivable that it might be useful to cover only a portion of a doorway, the balance of the doorway being sealed by some other means. Many other variations are undoubtedly possible within the scope of my invention.

Also, while I have discussed my invention principally with reference to railway boxcars used in the carriage of grain or other finely divided bulk materials, the sealing device of this invention could clearly be used in sealing doorways of other structures used in the storage or carriage of grain or other finely divided bulk materials, or indeed in the sealing of doorways of other structures used for other purposes.

I claim:

1. In a bulk transporting container for particulate commodities having a wall with a doorway therein, a disposable, interior sealing means for the doorway comprising:

a. an elongated channel disposed coextensively adjacent said doorway and inside said container, said channel opening toward the interior of said container and including an end wall connected to the wall of said container, a first side wall displaced from said doorway, rigidly and coextensively connected to said end wall, a second side wall intermediate said doorway and said first side wall, rigidly, coextensively, and orthogonally connected to said end wall, and a lateral flange rigidly connected to said first side wall and extending toward said second side wall to restrict the width of the opening of said channel;

b. at least one locking member snappingly and removably held within said channel by said end wall, said second side wall, and the interior surface of said lateral flange, said locking member being removable from within said channel without damaging said channel and said locking member further remaining out of contact with said first end wall;

c. a plurality of flexible tension members extending across said doorway and rigidly secured to said at least one locking member, each tension member being of a length and composition which prevents deflection of a tension member sufficient for said tension member to contact the outer doors of said container if said tension member is subjected to pressure from within said container by said commodity; and

d. a diaphragm extending over the inside of said at least one locking member and said flexible tension members and covering said doorway to seal said doorway. 

1. In a bulk transporting container for particulate commodities having a wall with a doorway therein, a disposable, interior sealing means for the doorway comprising: a. an elongated channel disposed coextensively adjacent said doorway and inside said container, said channel opening toward the interior of said container and including an end wall connected to the wall of said container, a first side wall displaced from said doorway, rigidly and coextensively connected to said end wall, a second side wall intermediate said doorway and said first side wall, rigidly, coextensively, and orthogonally connected to said end wall, and a lateral flange rigidly connected to said first side wall and extending toward said second side wall to restrict the width of the opening of said channel; b. at least one locking member snappingly and removably held within said channel by said end wall, said second side wall, and the interior surface of said lateral flange, said locking member being removable from within said channel without damaging said channel and said locking member further remaining out of contact with said first end wall; c. a plurality of flexible tension members extending across said doorway and rigidly secured to said at least one locking member, each tension member being of a length and composition which prevents deflection of a tension member sufficient for said tension member to contact the outer doors of said container if said tension member is subjected to pressure from within said container by said commodity; and d. a diaphragm extending over the inside of said at least one locking member and said flexible tension members anD covering said doorway to seal said doorway. 